Wed Jan 29 04:55:52 UTC 2025: ## Deadly Crowd Crush at India’s Mahakumbh Mela Kills at Least Seven
**Prayagraj, India** – At least seven people have died and many more injured in a crowd crush at the Mahakumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious festival, in Prayagraj, northern India. Initial reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 15.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning near the banks of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, a site of significant religious importance where pilgrims gather for ritual bathing. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the crowd surged, leaving clothes, shoes, and other belongings scattered across the ground. Footage shows rescue teams carrying victims away from the site.
An official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the deaths and injuries to Reuters, while a doctor at the festival site told AFP that 15 fatalities had occurred. Relatives of the injured anxiously awaited news outside a makeshift hospital set up near the festival grounds.
The Rapid Action Force has been deployed to control the situation and assist with rescue efforts. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and instructed officials to address the situation and provide relief.
The Mahakumbh Mela, held every 12 years, draws hundreds of millions of pilgrims. Wednesday was one of the holiest days of the six-week festival, with a large procession planned for the sacred bathing ritual. Despite warnings from officials using loudhailers urging pilgrims to avoid the main bathing area, the crush occurred in the early hours.
Deadly crowd crushes are tragically common at large religious gatherings in India. The Mahakumbh Mela has a particularly grim history, with over 400 deaths in a single day in 1954. Despite the installation of hundreds of security cameras this year to monitor crowd density, this latest tragedy highlights the ongoing safety concerns at the massive event. The final death toll remains unconfirmed.
First Piper 